U.S. patent number 7,952,477 [Application Number 12/720,257] was granted by the patent office on 2011-05-31 for door lock assembly.
Invention is credited to Benjamin Fogg.
United States Patent |
7,952,477 |
Fogg |
May 31, 2011 |
Door lock assembly
Abstract
A door lock assembly having a housing; a lock sub-assembly which
includes, among other members, a bolt and a bolt safety; a user
interface member; a secondary electrochemical cell and/or
capacitor; and an inertia charger and/or solar cell.
Inventors: |
Fogg; Benjamin (Holland,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
42264134 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/720,257 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2010 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20100154495 A1 |
Jun 24, 2010 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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12151368 |
May 6, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
340/542 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J
7/35 (20130101); H02J 7/345 (20130101); G08B
29/181 (20130101); G08B 21/22 (20130101); Y10T
70/7107 (20150401); Y10T 292/79 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
45/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;340/542,545.1,545.6,545.7,5.2,5.7 ;70/266,278.1,279.1 ;292/2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nguyen; Phung
Attorney, Agent or Firm: King & Partners, PLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/151,368, filed May 6, 2008, which is hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety--including all
references cited therein.
Claims
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the
United States is:
1. A door lock assembly, comprising: a housing, wherein the housing
comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and
second walls are spaced apart from one another to define a cavity
therebetween; a lock sub-assembly which comprises: a bolt, wherein
the bolt is at least partially positioned within the housing, and
wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked position and an
unlocked position; and a bolt safety, wherein the bolt safety is at
least partially positioned within the housing, and wherein the bolt
safety is positionable between an engaged, locked bolt position and
a disengaged, unlocked bolt position; a user interface member,
wherein the user interface member is associated with the housing,
and wherein the user interface member at least one of mechanically
and electrically communicates with the bolt safety; at least one of
a secondary electrochemical cell and a capacitor, wherein at least
one of the at least one secondary electrochemical cell and
capacitor is associated with the housing and communicates with at
least one of the bolt safety and the user interface member; and an
energy generator, wherein the energy generator comprises at least
one of an inertia charger and a solar cell and wherein the energy
generator communicates with at least one of the at least one
secondary electrochemical cell and capacitor.
2. A door lock assembly, comprising: a housing, wherein the housing
comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and
second walls are spaced apart from one another to define a cavity
therebetween; a lock sub-assembly which comprises: a bolt, wherein
the bolt is at least partially positioned within the housing, and
wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked position and an
unlocked position; and a bolt safety, wherein the bolt safety is at
least partially positioned within the housing, and wherein the bolt
safety is positionable between an engaged, locked bolt position and
a disengaged, unlocked bolt position; a user interface member,
wherein the user interface member is associated with the housing,
and wherein the user interface member at least one of mechanically
and electrically communicates with the bolt safety; a secondary
electrochemical cell, wherein the secondary electrochemical cell is
associated with the housing, and wherein the secondary
electrochemical cell communicates with at least one of the bolt
safety and the user interface member; and an inertia charger,
wherein the inertia charger communicates with the secondary
electrochemical cell.
3. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the inertia
charger is at least partially positioned within the housing.
4. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, further comprising
a handle, wherein the handle is at least partially positioned
within the housing, and wherein the handle comprises a first
position and a second position and wherein the handle is associated
with the bolt.
5. The door lock assembly according to claim 4, wherein a first
inertia charger comprises at least one of a linear inertia charger,
a torsional inertia charger, and a vibrational inertia charger
associated with the handle and wherein a second inertia charger
comprises at least one of a linear inertia charger, a torsional
inertia charger, and a vibrational inertia charger associated with
the bolt.
6. The door lock assembly according to claim 4, wherein the inertia
charger comprises a linear inertia charger associated with the bolt
and a torsional inertia charger associated with the handle.
7. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lock
sub-assembly further comprises a rectifier, wherein the rectifier
is at least partially positioned within the housing.
8. The door lock assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
rectifier receives an alternating current from the inertia charger
and communicates a direct current to the secondary electrochemical
cell.
9. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lock
sub-assembly further comprises a capacitor, wherein the capacitor
is at least partially positioned within the housing.
10. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
inertia charger comprises at least one of a linear inertia charger
and a torsional inertia charger.
11. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
inertia charger comprises a torsional inertia charger associated
with the user interface member.
12. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
inertia charger is associated with a hinge on a door.
13. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, further comprising
a door linkage sub-assembly, wherein the door linkage sub-assembly
comprises a mechanical apparatus for regulating movement of a door
and an inertia charger which communicates with the door lock
apparatus.
14. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, further comprising
a solar cell, wherein the solar cell communicates with the door
lock assembly.
15. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
inertia charger comprises at least one of a linear inertia charger,
a torsional inertia charger, a vibrational inertia charger, and a
compressional charger.
16. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
secondary electrochemical cell comprises at least one of an
alkaline, a lead acid, a nickel-cadmium, a nickel metal hydride, a
lithium-ion, and a lithium ion polymer secondary electrochemical
cell.
17. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, wherein the user
interface member comprises at least one of a card access interface,
a biometric access interface, an alpha-numeric access interface, a
radio frequency identification access interface, an infrared access
interface, a magnetic access interface, and combinations
thereof.
18. The door lock assembly according to claim 2, further comprising
a bolt safety controller, an energy flow controller, and an energy
switch.
19. The door lock assembly according to claim 18, further
comprising an energy flow controller which communicates with the
inertia charger, and an energy switch.
20. The door lock assembly according to claim 18, wherein the
energy switch comprises a discharge position and a recharge
position.
21. The door lock assembly according to claim 20, further wherein
the energy switch, the user interface member, the energy flow
controller, the bolt safety, the bolt safety controller, the
inertia charger, solar cell, capacitor, and the secondary
electrochemical cell are all in communication with one another.
22. A door lock assembly, comprising: a housing, wherein the
housing comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the
first and second walls are spaced apart from one another to define
a cavity therebetween; a lock sub-assembly which comprises: a bolt,
wherein the bolt is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked
position and an unlocked position; and a bolt safety, wherein the
bolt safety is at least partially positioned within the housing,
and wherein the bolt safety is positionable between an engaged,
locked bolt position and a disengaged, unlocked bolt position; a
user interface member, wherein the user interface member is
associated with the housing, and wherein the user interface member
at least one of mechanically and electrically communicates with the
bolt safety; a secondary electrochemical cell, wherein the
secondary electrochemical cell is associated with the housing, and
wherein the secondary electrochemical cell communicates with at
least one of the bolt safety and the user interface member; and a
solar cell, wherein the solar cell is associated with the door lock
apparatus, and wherein the solar cell communicates with the
secondary electrochemical cell.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a door lock assembly
and, more particularly, to a door lock assembly which reduces the
need for maintenance of the same.
2. Background Art
Door lock assemblies have been known in the art for years and are
the subject of numerous patents including: U.S. Pat. No. 7,113,070,
entitled "Door lock and operation mechanism," U.S. Pat. No.
6,967,562, entitled "Electronic lock control and sensor module for
a wireless system," U.S. Pat. No. 5,775,142, entitled "Electronic
door lock," U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,051, entitled "Keyless entry system
for replacement of existing key locks," U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,507,
entitled "Door lock assembly," U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,508, entitled
"Door lock assembly," U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,353, entitled
"Battery-powered door lock assembly and method," and U.S. Pat. No.
3,891,255, entitled "Door lock assembly"--all of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety including all
references cited therein.
In addition, various approaches have been taken toward the
development of inertia chargers and include those disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,794,783, entitled "Flat rotary electric generator," U.S.
Pat. No. 6,717,297, entitled "Electrical machine," U.S. Pat. No.
5,631,507, entitled "Electric power generator," U.S. Pat. No.
5,608,279, entitled "DC generator," U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,186,
entitled "Linear motion electric power generator," U.S. Pat. No.
5,089,734, entitled "Dual rotary AC generator," U.S. Pat. No.
4,500,827, entitled "Linear reciprocating electrical generator,"
U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,246, entitled "Apparatus for producing
electrical energy," U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,508, entitled "DC motor,"
and U.S. Pat. No. 3,673,444, entitled "Rotary electric
machine,"--all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety including all references cited therein.
While door lock assemblies have been known in the art for years,
issues associated with energy consumption, battery life, and
assembly maintenance remain problematic. To be sure, a substantial
amount of time must be dedicated to maintaining presently available
door lock assemblies--especially with regard to secondary
electrochemical cell replacement.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
door lock assembly having one or more inertia chargers to reduce
and/or eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks associated with
presently available door lock assemblies.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent in light of the present specification, claims, and
drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a door
lock assembly comprising: (a) a housing, wherein the housing
comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and
second walls are spaced apart from one another to define a cavity
therebetween; (b) a lock sub-assembly which comprises: (1) a bolt,
wherein the bolt is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked
position and an unlocked position; and (2) a bolt safety, wherein
the bolt safety is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt safety is positionable between an
engaged, locked bolt position and a disengaged, unlocked bolt
position; (c) a user interface member, wherein the user interface
member is associated with the housing, and wherein the user
interface member mechanically and/or electrically communicates with
the bolt safety; (d) a secondary electrochemical cell and/or a
capacitor, wherein the secondary electrochemical cell and/or
capacitor is associated with the housing and communicates with the
bolt safety and/or the user interface member; and (e) an energy
generator (a.k.a., energy converter), wherein the energy generator
comprises an inertia charger and/or a solar cell, and, wherein the
energy generator communicates with the secondary electrochemical
cell and/or capacitor.
The present invention is also directed to, in one embodiment, a
door lock assembly, comprising: (a) a housing, wherein the housing
comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and
second walls are spaced apart from one another to define a cavity
therebetween; (b) a lock sub-assembly which comprises: (1) a bolt,
wherein the bolt is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked
position and an unlocked position; and (2) a bolt safety, wherein
the bolt safety is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt safety is positionable between an
engaged, locked bolt position and a disengaged, unlocked bolt
position; (c) a user interface member, wherein the user interface
member is associated with the housing, and wherein the user
interface member mechanically and/or electrically communicates with
the bolt safety; (d) a secondary electrochemical cell, wherein the
secondary electrochemical cell is associated with the housing, and
wherein the secondary electrochemical cell communicates with the
bolt safety and/or the user interface member; and (e) an inertia
charger, wherein the inertia charger communicates with the
secondary electrochemical cell. Preferably, the inertia charger is
at least partially positioned within the housing.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door lock
assembly further comprises a handle, wherein the handle is at least
partially positioned within the housing, and wherein the handle
comprises a first position and a second position, and wherein the
handle is associated with the bolt.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first
inertia charger is provided which comprises a linear inertia
charger, a torsional inertia charger, a vibrational inertia
charger, and/or a compressional inertia charger associated with the
handle, and wherein a second inertia charger comprises at least one
of a linear inertia charger, a torsional inertia charger, a
vibrational inertia charger, and/or a compressional inertia charger
associated with the bolt.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
inertia charger comprises a linear inertia charger associated with
the bolt and a torsional inertia charger associated with the
handle.
In another aspect of the present invention, the lock sub-assembly
further comprises a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is at least
partially positioned within the housing. Preferably, the rectifier
receives an alternating current from the inertia charger and
communicates a direct current to the secondary electrochemical
cell.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock
sub-assembly further comprises a capacitor, wherein the capacitor
is at least partially positioned within the housing.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
inertia charger is associated with a hinge on a door.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
door lock assembly further comprises a door linkage sub-assembly,
wherein the door linkage sub-assembly comprises a mechanical
apparatus for regulating movement of a door and an inertia charger,
which communicates with the door lock apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door lock
assembly further comprises a solar cell, wherein the solar cell
communicates with the door lock assembly.
In another aspect of the present invention, the secondary
electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline, a lead acid, a
nickel-cadmium, a nickel metal hydride, a lithium-ion, and/or a
lithium ion polymer secondary electrochemical cell.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user
interface member comprises a card access interface, a biometric
access interface, an alpha-numeric access interface, a radio
frequency identification access interface, an infrared access
interface, and/or a magnetic access interface, and combinations
thereof.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the door
lock assembly further comprises a bolt safety controller, an energy
flow controller, and/or an energy switch. Preferably, the energy
flow controller communicates with the inertia charger, and/or the
energy switch. Additionally, the energy switch preferably comprises
a discharge position and a recharge position.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the energy
switch, the user interface member, the energy flow controller, the
bolt safety, the bolt safety controller, the inertia charger, the
solar cell, the capacitor, and/or the secondary electrochemical
cell are all in communication with one another.
The present invention is directed to, in one embodiment, a door
lock assembly, comprising: (a) a housing, wherein the housing
comprises a first wall and a second wall, and wherein the first and
second walls are spaced apart from one another to define a cavity
therebetween; (b) a lock sub-assembly which comprises: (1) a bolt,
wherein the bolt is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt is displaceable between a locked
position and an unlocked position; and (2) a bolt safety, wherein
the bolt safety is at least partially positioned within the
housing, and wherein the bolt safety is positionable between an
engaged, locked bolt position and a disengaged, unlocked bolt
position; (c) a user interface member, wherein the user interface
member is associated with the housing, and wherein the user
interface member mechanically and/or electrically communicates with
the bolt safety; (d) a secondary electrochemical cell, wherein the
secondary electrochemical cell is associated with the housing, and
wherein the secondary electrochemical cell communicates with the
bolt safety and/or the user interface member; and (e) a solar cell,
wherein the solar cell is associated with the door lock apparatus,
and wherein the solar cell communicates with the secondary
electrochemical cell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the
accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are
not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an
understanding of the invention or that render other details
difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be understood that
the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular
embodiments illustrated herein.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 of the drawings is an elevated side view of a door lock
assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention
(locked);
FIG. 2 of the drawings is an elevated side view of a door lock
assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention
(unlocked);
FIG. 3 of the drawings is a top-down plan view of a door linkage
sub-assembly associated with a door lock assembly; and
FIG. 4 of the drawings is an elevational view of an inertia charger
associated with a door hinge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different
forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described
in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that
the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of
the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the
invention to the embodiments illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or
components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the
drawings with like reference characters.
Referring now to FIG. 1, door lock assembly 10 is schematically
shown as generally comprising housing 20, lock sub-assembly 30,
user interface member 40, secondary electrochemical cell 50 (which
may be substituted and/or augmented with capacitor 140), optional
rectifier 60, one or more optional inertia chargers 70, and one or
more optional solar cells 110. It will be understood that door lock
assembly 10 preferably includes one or more inertia chargers 70
and/or one or more solar cells 110.
Housing 20 may comprise, for example, a first wall and second wall
spaced apart from one another to define a cavity, or may also
comprise first and second walls spaced apart from one another, as
well as third and fourth walls spaced apart from one another such
that the walls form a square, rectangular or other polygonal cavity
for retaining, for example, lock sub-assembly 30, user interface
member 40, secondary electrochemical cell 50, rectifier 60, inertia
charger 70, and/or capacitor 140--among other components. For
purposes of the present disclosure, housing 20 is preferably
fabricated from natural and/or synthetic resins, plastics, metals,
wood, etcetera. However, any one of a number of materials that
would be known to those having ordinary skill in the art with the
present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for use.
Housing 20 may also be advantageously manufactured from a
waterproof material, thereby protecting the contents of the housing
from the elements, or other outside contaminates.
Lock sub-assembly 30 is disclosed as at least partially contained
within housing 20. For purposes of the present disclosure lock
sub-assembly 30 comprises bolt 32, and bolt safety 34.
Bolt 32 is displaceable between a locked position (See FIG. 1) and
an unlocked position (See FIG. 2) and serves to secure an
associated door to a door frame. Bolt 32 is preferably fabricated
from a high tensile strength metal and/or a metallic alloy.
Bolt safety 34 is positionable between an engaged, locked bolt
position (See FIG. 1), and a disengaged, unlocked bolt position
(See FIG. 2). It will be understood that the bolt safety may
comprise any mechanism that directly and/or indirectly secures bolt
32 in a locked position. For example, the bolt safety may comprise
a solenoid and a pin, where the pin is displaceable by the solenoid
into a recess in bolt 32 when the bolt is in a locked position to,
in turn, preclude the bolt from being displaced to an unlocked
position. Also, bolt safety 34 may comprise a magnet, where the
magnet is engaged to secure the bolt in a locked position. It will
be understood that any one of a number of traditional bolt safety
configurations are suitable for use in accordance with the present
invention, including those disclosed in the references incorporated
by reference herein.
As is shown in FIG. 1, handle 36 is positioned at least partially
within housing 20. Handle 36 may comprise, for example, a sliding
mechanism with a knob which slides within a slot, or a common door
knob which rotates from a first position (See FIG. 1) to a second
position (See FIG. 2). In one embodiment, the handle is associated
with bolt 32, and acts to mechanically displace the bolt from the
locked position (See FIG. 1) to the unlocked position (See FIG. 2).
Such an association may comprise, for example, a set of gears; one
associated with handle 36 and another associated with bolt 32, such
that when the user turns handle 36 bolt 32 is displaced. A further
association may comprise, for example, hinged mechanical linkages
which displace bolt 32--for example, when a user turns handle 36.
It will be understood that handle 36 may also comprise a gearing
system that allows the handle to be disassociated from bolt 32 so
that the handle may be turned independently of any bolt
displacement. Such a configuration allows a user to turn handle 36
and generate energy via inertia charger 70.
For purposes of the present disclosure, handle 36 is preferably
fabricated from a natural and/or synthetic resins, plastics,
metals, wood, etcetera. However, any one of a number of materials
that would be known to those having ordinary skill in the art with
the present disclosure before them are likewise contemplated for
use.
Referring now to FIG. 1, user interface member 40 is associated
with housing 20, and may comprise, for example, a card access
interface, a biometric access interface, an alpha-numeric access
interface, a radio frequency identification access interface, an
infrared access interface, and/or a magnetic access interface, and
combinations thereof. By way of example, user interface member 40
may comprise a card access interface. In operation, a user may
input an access card into the access card interface which is read
by the access card interface. After the access card is read by the
access card interface, the access card interface determines whether
the access card is valid or invalid. If the access card is valid,
then the access card interface communicates an unlock output
signal. However, if the access card is invalid, then the access
card interface communicates a lock output signal. It will be
understood that while an access card interface has been disclosed
for illustrative purposes only, any one of a number of user
interface members (i.e. access/security members) are likewise
contemplated for use in accordance with the present invention.
User interface member 40 may also comprise an inertia charger 70,
which utilizes mechanical energy produced from user inputs (e.g.
insertion of a card, depressing of a button) and converts the
mechanical energy into direct or alternating current for storage
and/or use.
Solar cell 110 is shown in FIG. 1 as associated with user interface
member 40, although it may be associated with a door, a door frame,
or any surrounding structure, as long as solar cell communicates
with door lock assembly 10. Solar cell 110 converts light from
indoor and/or outdoor lighting sources to direct current electrical
energy, which is communicated to secondary electrochemical cell 50
and/or capacitor 140.
Secondary electrochemical cell 50 is shown in FIG. 1 as associated
with housing 20. Secondary electrochemical cell 50, may comprise,
for example, an alkaline, a lead acid, a nickel-cadmium, a nickel
metal hydride, a lithium-ion, and/or lithium ion polymer secondary
electrochemical cell. It will be understood that secondary
electrochemical cell 50 powers user interface member 40 and/or bolt
safety 34.
As is best shown in FIG. 1, rectifier 60, is at least partially
positioned within housing 20, and is in electrical communication
with secondary electrochemical cell 50 and capacitor 140. Secondary
electrochemical cell 50 and/or capacitor 140 receive energy from
inertia charger 70. Rectifier 60 may comprise solid state diodes
and/or vacuum tube diodes. Preferably, the rectifier will comprise
a full wave, three phase bridge rectifier.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, inertia charger
70 comprises one or more of a linear inertia charger, a torsional
inertia charger, a vibrational inertia charger and/or a
compressional inertia charger. For example, the inertia charger may
comprise one or more linear inertia chargers, including, but not
limited to, consisting of one or two linear inertia chargers. By
way of another example, the inertia charger may comprise one or
more torsional inertia charger including, but not limited to,
consisting of one or two torsional inertia chargers. By way of yet
another example, the inertia charger may comprise a linear inertia
charger associated with the bolt and a torsional inertia charger
associated with the handle.
As is best shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment for example, inertia
charger 70 may comprise a linear inertia charger, which can be
attached to bolt 32. In this embodiment, the linear inertia charger
preferably further comprises a rotor which can be connected to a
portion of bolt 32 inside housing 20. For purposes of the present
disclosure, the rotor reciprocates within a stator and produces an
alternating current. The linear inertia charger communicates the
produced alternating current to rectifier 60 which, in turn,
converts the alternating current to direct current. Rectifier 60
communicates the direct current to secondary electrochemical cell
50 for recharging of the same, and/or to capacitor 140 for storage
of the same. In a preferred embodiment, bolt 32 may also comprise a
rotor in and of itself. It will be understood that linear inertia
charger 70 (as well as any type of inertia charger) may produce
direct current eliminating the need for rectifier 60.
By way of an additional example, and as is shown in FIG. 1, inertia
charger 70 may comprise a torsional inertia charger which can be
attached to handle 36. In this embodiment, the torsional inertia
charger may comprise a rotor which is connected to at least a
portion of handle 36 and is positioned inside housing 20.
Preferably, the rotor turns within a stator positioned within the
housing or on the handle which produces an alternating current. The
torsional inertia charger communicates this alternating current to
rectifier 60 which converts the alternating current to direct
current. Rectifier 60 communicates direct current to secondary
electrochemical cell 50 for recharging of the same, and/or to
capacitor 140 for storage of the same. It will be understood that
torsional inertia charger 70 may produce direct current eliminating
the need for rectifier 60.
Referring now to FIG. 3, door linkage sub-assembly 130 comprises,
for example, a set of mechanical linkages 132 associated with door
134 and door frame 136. These mechanical linkages cooperate to
regulate movement during the opening and closing of a door. Door
linkage sub-assembly 130 further comprises one or more torsional
inertia chargers 70 which recover otherwise lost mechanical energy
produced by the opening and/or closing of a door and converts the
mechanical energy to electrical energy. Inertia chargers 70 which
are associated with door linkage sub-assembly 130 communicate with
secondary electrochemical cell 50, and/or capacitor 140 in the same
manner that previously mentioned inertia chargers 70
communicate.
Referring now to FIG. 4, door hinge 120 comprises, for example, a
typical door hinge associated with an inertia charger 70. As with
inertia charger 70 associated with door linkage sub-assembly 130,
inertia charger 70 associated with door hinge 120 recovers
mechanical energy produced by opening and/or closing a door and
coverts that mechanical energy into electrical energy. Inertia
chargers 70 which are associated with door hinge 120 communicate
with secondary electrochemical cell 50 and/or capacitor 140 in the
same manner that previously mentioned inertia chargers 70
communicate.
Referring once again to FIG. 1, the housing also preferably
comprises a bolt safety controller 80, an energy flow controller
90, and/or an energy switch 100.
As is best shown in FIG. 1, capacitor 140, is at least partially
positioned within housing 20, and is in electrical communication
with energy switch 100 and receives energy from inertia charger 70
and/or rectifier 60. Bolt safety controller 80 communicates with
capacitor 140 which, in turn, communicates energy to bolt safety
34.
It will be understood that bolt safety controller 80 receives input
from user interface member 40. The bolt safety controller
communicates with bolt safety 34 and receives direct current from
secondary electrochemical cell 50 and/or capacitor 140. By way of
example, when the output of the user interface member is a lock
output, then bolt safety controller 80 communicates with bolt
safety 34 and the bolt safety changes to the engaged (or maintains
the engaged), locked bolt position. It will be understood that the
bolt safety changes to the engaged, locked bolt position only if
bolt 32 is in the locked position. By way of another example, when
the output of user interface member 40 communicates an unlock
output to bolt safety controller 80, the bolt safety controller
communicates with bolt safety 34 and the bolt safety changes to the
disengaged, unlocked bolt position, and allows a user to displace
bolt 32 from the locked position to the unlocked position by
actuating handle 36. It will be understood that if a user does not
actuate the handle and displace the bolt within a period of time
(e.g. 30 seconds), bolt safety controller 80 automatically
communicates with bolt safety 34 and the bolt safety changes to the
engaged, bolt locked position for security purposes.
In one embodiment, energy flow controller 90 communicates with bolt
safety 34, secondary electrochemical cell 50, inertia charger 70,
and energy switch 100.
In accordance with the present invention, energy flow controller 90
changes energy switch 100 from the charge position to the discharge
position--and vice versa.
For purposes of the present disclosure, energy switch 100 comprises
charge and discharge positions which facilitates the flow of direct
current. In particular, when the energy switch is in the charge
position it allows communication (e.g. direct current) from
rectifier 60 to secondary electrochemical cell 50. When the energy
switch is in the discharge position it allows communication (e.g.
direct current) from secondary electrochemical cell 50 to bolt
safety 34.
In operation, in one embodiment, a user inputs an access member
(e.g. an access card, a fingerprint, an alpha-numeric code,
etcetera) into the user interface member. After the user interface
member reads, for example, the access card, and determines the
access card is valid, then the user interface member communicates
an unlock output to bolt safety controller 80. Next, energy flow
controller 90 communicates with energy switch 100, and the energy
switch changes to the discharge position, which allows energy to
flow from secondary electrochemical cell 50 to bolt safety 34.
Also, capacitor 140 may communicate energy to bolt safety 34
without use of the energy switch upon communication from bolt
safety controller 80 to capacitor 140. Bolt safety 34 subsequently
changes to the disengaged, unlocked bolt position. After bolt
safety 34 changes to the disengaged, unlocked bolt position, a user
actuates handle 36 from the first position to the second position
thereby displacing bolt 32 from the locked position to the unlocked
position.
Concurrently, as the user actuates handle 36 from the first
position to the second position, a torsional inertia charger which
comprises a rotor attached to the handle, turns within a stator
positioned within housing 20 or connected to handle 36. The
torsional inertia charger generates an alternating current and
communicates the alternating current to rectifier 60. The rectifier
(if needed) then converts the alternating current to direct
current. Rectifier 60 may not be necessary if torsional inertia
charger 70 produces direct current, in and of itself. Next, energy
flow controller 90 communicates with energy switch 100, and the
energy switch changes to the charge position, which allows direct
current to flow from rectifier 60 to secondary electrochemical cell
50. Capacitor 140 may communicate energy to bolt safety 34 without
use of the energy switch upon communication from bolt safety
controller 80 to capacitor 140. In conjunction with the torsional
inertia charger, as the user actuates handle 36 from the first
position to the second position, a linear inertia charger which
comprises a rotor attached to bolt 32 reciprocates within a stator
positioned within housing 20. The linear inertia charger produces
alternating current. In one preferred embodiment, bolt 32 may also
be a rotor, in and of itself. The linear inertia charger
communicates alternating current to rectifier 60 (if needed) and
the rectifier converts the alternating current to direct current.
Rectifier 60 may not be necessary if linear inertia charger 70
produces direct current, in and of itself. Next, energy flow
controller 90 communicates with the energy switch 100, and the
energy switch changes to the charge position, and allows energy to
flow from rectifier 60 to secondary electrochemical cell 50.
It will be understood that the devices provided herein enable a
secondary electrochemical cell to be replaced substantially less
frequently, which can result in substantial cost savings for
entities such as hotels and commercial buildings.
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the
invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar
as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art
who have the disclosure before them will be able to make
modifications without departing from the scope of the
invention.
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